Lesson 30 Restoration by Transformation

Lesson 30Lesson 30Restoration by TransformationRestoration by Transformation

None of us have the power within None of us have the power within ourselves to permanently overcome ourselves to permanently overcome life-controlling habits.life-controlling habits.

Some people are strong Some people are strong emotionally and have a measure of emotionally and have a measure of fortitude to control certain desires, fortitude to control certain desires, but in the end the flesh will win.but in the end the flesh will win.

Transformation is a process of Transformation is a process of permanent outward change that permanent outward change that takes place over time, originating takes place over time, originating from a supernatural change in from a supernatural change in man’s heart by God.man’s heart by God.

The only way to be transformed by The only way to be transformed by the renewing of our mind is through the renewing of our mind is through a supernatural work of God on the a supernatural work of God on the inside of a person, otherwise we inside of a person, otherwise we only have what we can do for only have what we can do for ourselves, and this is far too little.ourselves, and this is far too little.

2Corinthians 5:17-18 says, 2Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”reconciliation;”

When a person accepts Jesus Christ When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour, and they receive a new as Saviour, and they receive a new nature, this does not mean they no nature, this does not mean they no longer struggle with desires of the longer struggle with desires of the flesh; it is quite the contrary.flesh; it is quite the contrary.

Because we now have two natures, Because we now have two natures, there is a tremendous struggle that there is a tremendous struggle that takes place between our old nature takes place between our old nature and our new nature. and our new nature. The nature The nature that wins the struggle is the nature that wins the struggle is the nature we feed or allow to have control.we feed or allow to have control.

If we want the new man to win the If we want the new man to win the struggles, we must give the new struggles, we must give the new man what he needs to win.man what he needs to win.

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Be not Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”everlasting.”

Galatians 5:16 gives us the final Galatians 5:16 gives us the final answer to the question of how to have answer to the question of how to have the mind of Christ and live a pure life. the mind of Christ and live a pure life. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

In Romans chapter seven God uses In Romans chapter seven God uses Paul the Apostle’s own struggles to Paul the Apostle’s own struggles to demonstrate just how powerful our demonstrate just how powerful our flesh is.flesh is.

Paul gives us the key to deliverance. Paul gives us the key to deliverance. He says, “O wretched man that I am! He says, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of who shall deliver me from the body of this death? this death? I thank God through Jesus I thank God through Jesus Christ our LordChrist our Lord.” We see here that .” We see here that deliverance comes through Jesus deliverance comes through Jesus Christ.Christ.

When Christ is Lord of our life, we When Christ is Lord of our life, we have the power to overcome the have the power to overcome the desires of the flesh. desires of the flesh. The problem The problem with the addict is that they are in with the addict is that they are in control instead of Christ. control instead of Christ.

Yielding to Jesus Christ is the key to Yielding to Jesus Christ is the key to deliverance from addictionsdeliverance from addictions..

We see in Galatians 5:22-25 that the We see in Galatians 5:22-25 that the spiritual person exhibits one fruit of spiritual person exhibits one fruit of the Spirit that contains nine graces, the Spirit that contains nine graces, which are signs of a spiritual life.which are signs of a spiritual life.

The spirit of meekness comes from The spirit of meekness comes from a heart that is humble and one that a heart that is humble and one that recognizes that man is but dust.recognizes that man is but dust.

Humility declares dependency on Humility declares dependency on God and enables the Christian God and enables the Christian worker effectively help the addict worker effectively help the addict by restoring them to God through by restoring them to God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Counsel and restoration go hand-in-Counsel and restoration go hand-in-hand, but restoration is postponed hand, but restoration is postponed or stifled when we fall into the trap or stifled when we fall into the trap of prolonged counseling sessions.of prolonged counseling sessions.

The correct response to counsel The correct response to counsel and counseling is to provide the and counseling is to provide the addict with advice from God’s Word addict with advice from God’s Word and let the addict know in clear and and let the addict know in clear and certain terms that they are certain terms that they are expected to follow that advice.expected to follow that advice.

It is the Word of God that changes It is the Word of God that changes the heart of men, and therefore, their the heart of men, and therefore, their actions, not our ideas and formulas.actions, not our ideas and formulas.